Tank-car construction



B. D. LOCKWOOD. -TANK CAR CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1919.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. D. LOCKWOOD. TANK CARCONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION man JUNE 25. 1919.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

B. D. Lockwood. TANK CA-R CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, I9I9. 1,352,981.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- a'nmm/to a Witwmw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- BURNS D. LOCKWOOD, OF BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PRESSED STEEL CAR COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TANK-CAR CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented S t 14 1920 Application filed June 25, 1919. Serial No. 306,736.

. Car Construction, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tank car in which the tank is movable relative to the underframe and in which a cushioning device is provided which is adapted to resist any longitudinal movement of the tank relative'to the underfra-me due to the expansion and contraction of the tank, or heavy bufling and other service shocks.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a tank car in which a cushioning device is secured to the underframe thereof and connected with the tank in such a manner as to resist any longitudinal movement of the tank relative to the underframe.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a tank car in which a cushioning device is preferably mounted on the center sills thereof preferably at or near the transverse center-line of the car and is connected with the tank at or near its ends such device being adapted to resist any longitudinal movement of the tank relative to the underframe. 1

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of a tank car constructed in accordance with the invention, the tank and-the underfralne being shown by dotted lines to more clearly illustrate the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the car details of the tank and underframe which are not essential being 3 is an enlarged side elevatlonal-view of a portion of the underframe showing 'a cushioning device mounted thereon; a portion ofone to more clearly illustrate the device; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line-4-4= of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of the 'underfra'me and resilient device, the portion of the underframe being shown by dotted lines to more clearly illustrate the cushioning device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig- 3;.and Figs. 7 and8 are detail spaced lugs 10 omitted; Fig.

of the center sills being broken away with a nut rection will engage the enlarged portion on the other part of the band and W111 draw views of a modification of the end tank bands. Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modification of the invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the same taken on theline 10'-10 of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same, portions of the underframe being shown by dotted lines to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the reference character l-dndicates the. underframe of the car which maybe of any desired construction, but, as illustrated in the drawings preferably comprises center sills 2 and bolsters 3, which sills and bolsters may be of any suitable form or construction. v The bolsters 3 are provided with cradle members 4 in which the tank 5 is mounted in such a manner as to permit longitudinal' movement of the tank relative to the cradle members and underframe. The tank. 5 may be of any suitable construction and may be held against vertical movement, relative to the underframe, by the usual tank bands 6, the ends of which are anchored in the bolsters.

At each of the ends'of the tank 5 alstop member 7 is provided which has a stop por tion 8 that extends upwardly and is adapted to engage theend of the tank. Each of these members is also provided with a portion 9 which is curved to correspond with the curve of the tank. The portion 9 is provided with downwardly depending to which the outer end portions 11o f spaced rods 12' or other suitable means are secured, such rods being hereinafter more fully described. To hold these members 7 in their proper positions relative to the tank, bands are provided which pass around the tank? and at their ends are secured to the members 7. In Figs. 7 and.8

a modification of the'tank bands 13 is illustrated in which eachof tliese bands is made in two parts the lower ends of such parts being per ends are spaced'apart and are provided with enlarged bolt 15 is passed, at one end with a to engage the enlarged portion on'one of the parts, and at its opposite end is provided 17 which when turned in one disuch bolt being provided secured to the member 7 and the upportions 14 through which ahead 16 which is adapted 1 end portion 24 of the the plunger 30 the upper ends of the bands toward each other and thus tighten the band on the tank.

At both sides of the transverse centerline of the car, shafts 18 are provided each of which extends in a direction'transversely of the car and is journaled in bearing members 19 that are secured to the center sill, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each of these shafts extends beyond the center sills and at each of its ends is provided with an upwardly extending arm 20 to which the of the car, is secured. Each of the rods 12 preferably comprises a plurality of parts which are connected together through the medium of a turnbuckle 12 by means of which the length of the rod may be adjusted.

One of the shafts 18 is provided with an arm 22 and the other shaft 18 is provided with an arm 23, which arms extend toward and overlap each other at or near the transverse center-line of the car. Above the end portions 24 and 25 of these arms a box like structure is preferably provided, which in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a U-shaped bottom member 26 and an inverted U-shaped top member 27,

both of which are secured to each other and are secured preferably to and between the webs of the center sills. The bottom member 26 is provided with an opening 28 through which the lower portion 29 of a plunger 30 passes. This plunger is provided with an enlarged upper portion 31, the .underside of which forms a shoulder which is adapted to engage the upper surface of the web of the member 26 around the opening 28, thus preventing the plunger 30 from accidentally moving from its operative position. The lower portion 29 of the plunger 30 extends below the web of the member 26 and at its end, rests on the arm 22. This plunger is provided with an opening 32 which extends through the. portion 29 and has -mounted therein a plunger 33, the lower portion 34 of which extends through the plunger 30 and through an opening 35 formed in the end portion 24 of the arm 22 and its lower end rests on the end portion 25 of the arm 23. This plunger 23 is provided. with an enlarged upper 'portion 36 the underside of which-forms a shoulder which is adapted to engage with the plunger 30. The upper surface of the portion'36 of the plunger 23 forms a seat for the lower end portion of a spring 37 the upper portion of which is seated on the web 38 of the top member 26. The upper end of the spring is seated over a pro'ection 39 which is sec'ured to the 'web 38 of the member 26 and the lower end of the spring is seated within the enlarged upper portion 31 of and it will thus be seen inner end 21 of one ofthe rods 12, at one end plunger as well as that the spring is held in its proper operative position against accidental movement by its engagement with the projection 39 and by its engagement with the upwardly projecting flange 40 of the enlarged portion 31 of the plunger 30. It will here be. noted that the plungers 3.0 and 33 are freely movable relative to the bottom member .26 and to each other and that the spring 37 may be compressed by a force moving either or both of theplungers. To prevent excessive downward movement of the arms 22 and 23, supports 41 may be provided each of which extends under one of the arms and at its ends is secured to the center'sills. When the tank moves, relative to the underframe, in the direction as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2, it will, by reason ofthe engagement of the end of thetank 5.and the stop member 7 pull'the rods 12 at one end of the tank in the same direction, thus turning one of the shafts 18 and the arm 22 in the direction as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 3, and this arm being 'in contact with the plunger 30 will force such the plunger 33 upwardly with the result that the spring 37 is "co1npressed. When the tank moves in the direction opposite to that'indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2 the other shaft 18 and the army-23 are caused to turn in the direction as indicated by the arrow C in Fig. 3 and this arm being in contact with the plunger 33 will force such plunger upwardly with the result that the spring 37 is compressed.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 a modification of the invention has been illustrated in which shafts 42 and 43 are provided which extend in a direction transversely of the car beyond the center sills, and are journaled in bearing members 44 secured to the center sills. Each of these shafts is provided with arms 45, one arranged at eachend thereof, each of such arms being connected with one of the rods 12. The shaft 42 is provided with an arm 46 and the shaft 43 is provided with an arm 47, both of such arms extending upwardly between the center sills. Between these arms 46 and 47 a spring 48 and followers which are held in operative positions by a rod 50 which passes through the arms 46 and 47, the spring 48 and the followers 49, and has its end portions passed through openings formed in the members 51 which are arranged between and are secured to the center sills, such rod being held in its proper position by cotters 52 or other suitable means." When the tank moves in the 1 direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the arm 46 will be caused to move in the direction hsindicated by the arrow D in Fig. 9, and when the tank moves in the 49 are interposed relative thereto, and means connected with I ioning device for to move in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow D in Fig. 9, and these arms will move the followers toward the transverse center line of thecar and will thus compress the spring 48. noted that the levers to which the rods 12 are connected are of less length than the levers which cooperate with the spring or cushioning medium with the result that any force transmitted through the rods and levers to the spring is reduced in proportion to the lengths of the levers relative to each other.

It will be understood that the cushioning device instead of comprising a spring may comprise any other suitable cushioning medium.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a tank car, an underframe, a tank mounted on said underirame, and a cushsaid tank interposed between and connected with said tank and underframe, the ends of said device being adapted to engage the ends of said tank, the resilient portion of said device being arranged at substantially the longitudinal center line of the car.

2. In a tank car, an underframe, a tank mounted on said underframe, and a cushioning device for said tank connected with said tank and underframe, said device extending substantially the full length'of said tank and being adapted to. engage the ends of said tank, the resilient portion of said device being arranged at substantially the longitudinal center line of the car.

3. In a tank car, an underframe comprising center sills, a tank mounted on said underframe and a cushioning device for said tank, the ends of said device being connected with the ends of said tank and the resilient portion of said device being connected with said center sills.

4. In a tank car,,an underframe, a tank mounted on said underframe and movable said tank and underframe for, permitting limited movement of the tank relative to the underframe, said means being arranged at substantiallythe center line of thecar extending substantially the full length of said 1 tank and engaging the end portions of said tank.

5. In a tank car, an underframe, a tank 'mounted on said underframe and a single cushioning device for said tank connected with said tank and underframe, adapted to resist bodily movement of the tank relative to the underframe said device comprising a spring mounted on said underframe, and a connection from the end of said tank to said spring.

6. In a tank car, an underframe, a tank It will be" mounted on said underframe and a single cushioning device for sald tank connected with said tank and underframe, said devicecomprising a spring mounted on said underframe, and articulated connections from the end of said tank to said spring adapted to resist movement of the tank relative to the underframe. a

7. In a tank car, an undejrframe, a tank mounted on said underframe, and a cushioning device for said tank .connected with said tank and underframe, said device com- .prising a spring, and connections from the v end of said tank to said spring adapted to" operate with said cushioning means, and connection from the ends ofsaid tank adapted to transmit to said levers force'caused byj the movement of said tank. 7

10. In a tank car, the combination with an underframe, of a tank mounted on said underframe, stop'members mounted on the end portions of said tank, cushioning means connected with said underframe and-located at substantially the transverse center line of the car, and connections from-said stop members to said cushioning means, each of which connections comprises a force modifying lever.

-11. In a tank car, the combination with an under'frame of a tank carried .by said underframe and movable relative thereto,

stop members mounted on the end portions of said tank, cushioning means mount'ed on said underframe, the resilient portion'of said means being arranged at substantially the longitudinal center line of the car, connections from said stop members to said cushioning means and means for adjusting the lengths of said connections.

12. In a tank car, thecombination with an underframe comprising center sills, of a tank movably carried by said underframe, stop members at the ends of said tank, cushioning means mounted between said centersills, shafts'mounted on said center sills extending in a direction transversely of the car in proximity-to said cushioning means, an arm on each of said shafts adapted to cooperate with said cushioning means, another arm on each of said shafts, and connections from said stop members to the lastmentioned arms.

engaging said 13. In a tank car, the combination with an underframe, of a tank mounted on said underframe, stop members engaging the end portions of said tank, cushioning means secure'd to said underframe, a hollow plunger cushioning means and connected with one of said stop members, and a' plunger passing through the said hollow plunger engaging said cushioning means and connected with the other of said stop members.

14. Ina tank car, the combination Withan under-frame, of a tank mounted on said underframe, stop members engaging the end portions of said tank, cushioning means secured to said underframe, a hollow plunger engaging said cushioning means, a plunger passing through said hollow plunger and engaging said cushioning means and articulated connections from said plungers to said stop'members.

15. In a tank car, the combination with an underframe, of a tank underframe, stop members engaging the end portions of said tank, cushioning means secured-to saidunderframe, a plurality of plungers engaging said cushioning means mounted on said and means connecting said plungers and stop members.

16. In a tank car, the combination with an underframe, of a tank mounted on said underframe, stop members engaging the end portions of said tank, cushioning means secured to said underframe, plungers engaging said cushioning means one of said.v plungers passing through the other of said plungers and means connecting said plungers and stop members.

17. In a tank car, the combination with means, levers for operating said plungers and means for operatlvely connecting sald' stop members and levers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

BURNS D. LOCKWOOD. 'l/Vitnesses FRANK E. MILLER, H. M. BEND-EB,

a plurality of 

